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SUGGESTIONS 



MR. WILLIAM E.f HANDLER, 



COTTNSEL FOR THE 

District of Columbia, 

IN THE 

INVESTIGATION 

LA' TO THE AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT. 



MADE BEFORE THE 



HOUSE DISTRICT COMMITTEE, 
April 24, 1872. 






cij'V^^ 




WASHINGTON: 

GIBSON BROTHERS, PRINTERS. 

1872. 





SUGGESTIONS 



ME. CHANDLEE. 



3Ii'. Chainnau and Ge)itlenien o/' the Voimnittee: 

In reviewing the seven or eight hundred pages of the record of this 
investigation — extending over 90 days, of which the memoriahsts occu- 
pied about 75, with 165 witnesses, and the District government about 
15, with 3(5 Avitnesses — the inquiiy naturally presents itself, "What is the 
issue? ^Vhat action do the memorialists demand which the District au- 
thorities ojDpose? 

The principal memorialist, Mr. John H. Crane, distinctly answered this 
iu(iuiiy in the early part of the hearing by stating in substance that he 
charged that the new District government had been so inefficiently, ex- 
travagantly, and corruptly managed that the public interests required 
that the organic act should be repealed, the government entii'ely over- 
tiu-ned and destroyed, and a new and different one estabHshed in its place. 

This statement of the question at issue is correct. The memorial and 
various other written documents submitted by INIr. Crane and his coim- 
sel, and also the testimony of several of theii- witnesses, distuictly and 
l^laiuly charge the District officers ^dth "incompetency," a "disregard of 
law," "usurpation," "extravagance," "recklessness," "blunders," "unpar- 
alleled profligacy;" the inauguration of "taxation amounting to confisca- 
tion," and the "destruction of the values of the real estate of the Dis- 
trict;" the adoption of measures certain to bring on "inundation and pes- 
tilence;" indeed, with being a "pack of thieves," who, in addition to 
theii- other crimes, and m order to conceal them, have resorted to •• false 
and fraudulent" written and sworn statements to the committee. 



This being the indictment for which the memorialists have made them 
selves responsible, they have been allowed the unlimited use of the 
power and money of the United States to procure the attendance of 
witnesses to prove their charges ; have caused a large expenditure 
for this i^urpose ; have occui)ied three months' time of the commit- 
tee ; have obstructed the improvement of the District, and injured its 
credit ; and for this long period have publicly assailed the good name 
and fame of the District officers, who have been powerless to prevent 
this defamation, and could only wait patiently for that final vindication 
by the committee which it is now submitted they are entitled to re- 
ceive. 

So completely have the harsh and sweeping charges of the memori- 
alists broken down, when patiently investigated, that on the last day of 
the hearing their counsel caused to be presented to the committee a bill 
embodying their views as to what action should be taken by Congress, 
the most important features of which are the election by the tax-payers 
of the council now ajipointed by the President, and the requirement 
of special instead of general appropriations for District improvements. 
But no proposition is made to reorganize the Board of Public Works, 
or in any essential degree to change the form of government or its pres- 
ent officers — a most feeble and ignominious termination of a high- 
sounding and denunciatory onslaught upon the Avhole District govern- 
ment, threatening nothing less than its complete annihilation ! 

In this view of the issue the District aiathorities might, without fur- 
ther comment, safely leave the case in the hands of the committee, with 
no fear as to the decision. 

But the Committees on District Affairs in both houses of Congress 
are the guardians of the welfare of the District, as well as of the in- 
terests of the United States therein ; and the District officers avail 
themselves of this opportunity of briefly reviewing their action during 
the year, not merely to exculpate themselves from all charges of seriovis 
faults, but in hopes that the thorough knowledge of District affiiirs which 
has been acquired by the committee during this tedious trial may result in 
liberal and beneficial legislation which shall add largely to the beauty 
and prosperity of the capital. There is no great evil withoiit some small 
good; and even from this investigation, which has produced so much in- 
jury, there may possibly come, through the aid of the committee, ben- 
efits more than sufficient to compensate for the evils which the memo- 
rialists have inflicted. 

While the District officers contend that they have acted with fidelity 
and raasouable economy and ability, considering the difficulties wdiich 
^ave surrounded them, they by no means claim to have been infallible. In 



3. 

the inaugnration of a new government and the commencement of a sys- 
tem of extensive improvements, mistakes have iindoiibtedly been made. 
Upon these mistakes they do not shrink from, but rather invite the 
friendly criticism of the committee, and their advice and aid in avoiding 
them for the futiu'e. 

In deprecation of too harsh criticism, however, they earnestly call at- 
tention to two important considerations : 

Fii'st. The necessities of a neAv government getting under way are 
much greater than will exist after the new system is fairly established. 
Much work had to be done in the first year that will not be repeated ; 
fewer officers will be siitficient, and all the incidental expenses will be 
less. The special difficulties which have occiirred — the injunction, stop- 
ping the work of improvements, and the annoying and expensive litiga- 
tion consequent thereon ; the making of a second registration and the 
holding of a second electioji in the same year, also occasioned thereby — 
are too fresh in the minds of the committee to need reiteration. They 
fully account for those expenditiu'es of the District which have occa- 
sioned the most unfavorable comment, and they were the prolific source 
from which nearly all trouble has arisen. 

Second. The early, long, and unusual winter has been most unfor- 
tunate. The Board of Pxil^lic Works were naturally anxious to accom- 
plish results during the year 1871. The people of the District and Con- 
gress exjjected them to make progress. They commenced earnestly and 
vigorously, in season to accomiDlish extensive improvements before the 
winter, but immediately on July 25, 1871, came an injunction. Then 
new legislation was required, and the half-million api:)ropriation act of 
August 11 was passed. In the meantime much confusion and delay had 
arisen, biit the Board then pressed on with their work xmtil arrested by 
the winter season. But the haste in which many of the pavements were 
laid resulted in defects : streets were torn up which it was impossible to 
complete, and the wdnter proved longer and colder than has been known 
for many years, so that work could not be prosecuted. Colonel Berrett 
testified (p. 324) that he had never known a winter for thirty years so 
prejudicial to out-door labors, and that with such a winter as we had 
last year work might have been carried forward to a much greater extent. 
Last of all came the investigation, which has contributed to paralyze all 
effective administration. 

After making allowances for the foregoing special ciixumstances, the 
District authorities believe that the fullest possible investigation has re- 
siilted in the vindication of the substantial correctness and wisdom of 
their official action. 



ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF LAW BY THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS. 

It is charged that the Board of Pubhc Works made contracts iu con- 
travention of the provision in section 37 of the organic act of February 
21, 1871, that the Board "shall have no power to make contracts to bind 
said District to the payment of any sums of money excei:)t in pursuance 
of api^ropriations made by law, and not until such appropriation shall 
have been made." 

In fact, however, no contracts were made by the Board until after the 
passage of the act of the Legislative Assembly of July 10, 1871, the first 
section of which appropriated foiu* million dollars to be expended by the 
Board in improvements. 

The proceedings of the Board under that act having been stopped by 
the injunctionists, the Legislative Assembly, by act of August 11, 1871. 
appropriated half a million dollars from the revenue of the District for 
the current year, to be expended by the Board in improvements. It dis- 
tinctly appears by the list of contracts (on pages 75 to 77) let under this 
act of August 11, 1871, amounting to $436,051.16, that the Board kept 
strictly within the authority of the act. No additional contracts were 
entered into until after the dissolution of the injunction. Since that 
time, by virtue of the first section of the act of July 10, additional con- 
tracts have been entered into, (pp. 78-80,) amounting to $875,667.29. 
It thus clearly appears that the Board in making theii* contracts have 
complied with the organic law. 

The charge of the memorialists on this jDoint seems to be reduced to 
an attempt to show that the work on the F-street improvement was com- 
menced before the passage of the act of July 10, 1871. It is a matter 
of doubt on the Avhole testimony whether any considerable amount of 
work was done on that improvement before July 10. Mr. Coombs, the 
counsel, who, like his associate, Mr. Crane, diversifies his action by swear- 
ing as a witness as well as arguing as counsel, undertakes to testify (p. 
609) that Nineteenth-street was cut down in June. But he is contra- 
dicted by the contractor, Mr. Vandenburg, (p. 18,) Mr. Himber, 
(p. 472,) and Mr. Shepherd, and is probably mistaken. But whatever 
the facts may be, the point which Mr. Coombs thus undertakes to sustain, 
first by his oath and then by his argument, is an infinitesimal one. If the 
work was actually carried on to any extent before July 10 it was per- 
formed by direction of Mr. Forsyth, engineer of the Board, who had 
been also engineer of the city, (p. 43,) and the Board took the full resj)on- 
sibility for his action. Technical legal authority for lowering the grade 
before July 10, if this be necessary to save the Board from Mr. Coombs' 
con.lenmaiion, can be found in the express language of the act of 



the city of Washington approved April 29, 1871. As this act only 
made an ap^iropriation of $600, it would not, however, morally justify 
such an extensive im^Drovement as that finally adopted by the Board, and 
no attempt has ever been made, although there has been some misappre- 
hension and confusion on the subject, to put the actual responsibility of 
the imjorovement upon the city of Washington or upon Mayor Emery, 
but it has proceeded under the ample authority confeiTed upon the Board 
by the acts of July 10 and August 11. 

It has also been charged that the Board has violated the provision in 
section 2 of the act of July 10, 1871, "that in no case shall the said 
Board enter into a contract for any work or improvement the cost of 
which shall exceed the amount estimated therefor in its aforesaid plan, 
less twenty per centum of said estimates." 

The reply to this charge is — 

First. That the above clause had no aj)plication to the contracts made 
under the half million appropriation of August 11, which was unlimited 
in its terms. 

Second. That as the Board had discretionary authority to vary from 
the plan of Jime 20, and were only bound to adliere thereto as fully as 
might be "practicable and consistent with the public interests," it was a 
substantial compliance with the foregoing provision of section 2 of the 
act of July 10 if the Board entered into no contracts for any work or 
improvements at prices per foot or per yard which should exceed the 
prices stated m its plan, less twenty per cent. In no case has the Board 
paid prices in excess of the limit stated, and by keeping within that limit, 
and also keeping their total expenditures upon the improvements of the 
District within the total amount estimated therefor in the jilan of June 
20, they beheve they have complied with the spiiit, if not with the letter 
of the statute. 

In tliis connection may be stated the view entertained by the Board 
in reference to their obligations to adhere to and their right to vary from 
the plan of June 20. That plan was hastily prepared, to be the basis of 
immediate legislation, in order that improvements might commence 
during the year 1871. It was not expected to be strictly accurate or 
perfect, and the act expressly authorizes, and was intended by evei*y 
member of the Legislatui'e to authorize, the Board to vary fi*om the plan 
in accordance with their convictions as to the best interests of the Dis- 
trict. The Board, therefore, believe that the^^ are entitled to exercise a 
wide latitude in the expenditui-e of the four millions appropriated, takino- 
care always to expend the amount economically, in improvements tliat 
are needed, distributing the expenditure fairly and wisely throughout 



the whole District so as to benefit as equally as possible all the property- 
holders liable to be taxed to pay for the improvements. 

The memorialists have seized upon the expenditures in the vicinity of 
F-street and upon the Seventh-street road as tending to show a disre 
gard by the Board of the whole plan of June 20, when in fact these im- 
provements are exceptions, and are the most ju-ominent and important 
variations from the general plan. 



F-STEEET IMPROVEMENT. 

This somewhat expensive improvement seems justified by the advan- 
tages resulting therefrom. It was reqiiired, as stated by Mr. Mullett, 
(p. 575,) in order to joroperly adjust the gi'ades of the streets to the new 
State Department building. It reduced the summit of the hill which in- 
tervened between Pennsylvania Avenue and the canal, shutting off the 
drainage and the view. It furnished earth with which to fill up the low 
ground toward the canal and make a grade nearly uniform from Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue to the Potomac. It relieved from dampness the cellars in 
that whole section. It greatly increased the value of four-fifths of the 
proj)erty affected, and the few houses injured temporarily by the great 
depth of excavation will also eventually be benefited. Whatever may 
be the opinions or theories as to the wisdom of the improvement, the fact 
that it has converted a dull, unhealthy, unfashionable locality into a sec- 
tion where property has risen largely in value and finds a ready sale is 
an unanswerable vindication of the District authorities in making the 
change. The expense, though large, will in the end be fully justified by 
the benefits derived therefrom, and is no greater than the "property -hold- 
ers in that section owning $4,215,551, being about one-twentieth of the 
property of the District, were entitled to have incurred for their benefit. 

SEVENTH-STREET ROAD. 

Of all the improvements made by the Board the work on the Seventh- 
street road seems to be the most justifiable. This thoroughfare, being 
the only highway north into Maryland, meeting at the District line good 
macadamized roads extending into that State, was in a disgraceful and 
almost impassible condition, as described in the testimony of B. D. Car- 
penter, (p. 88;) P. P. Blair, Sr., (p. :) John Saul. (p. (121;) B. T. 
Swart, (p. 622 ;) D. L. Eaton, (p. 644.) 

It was natural that the large expenditure on this road shou.ld excite 
criticism when the printed estimate appeared to be only $2,500. This 
is shown (p. 674) to have been a misprint for $25,500, and the large 
increase in the expenditure over the amount estimated for, is, as has been 



already stated, exceptional, and in the opinion of the Board fully justified 
by the importance of this great public highway. 

It has been charged that the road was repaired at great cost by days' 
work for political pmposes. It appears, however, that the work will 
be completed for from $125,000 to $150,000 in all, while at the contract 
prices of the Board as shown by the estimate of Mr. B. D. Carpenter, 
(p. 656.) the cost would have been as follows: 

(lost of the Sei'ienth-sfreet Road litiproremenX. 

124. 324: cubic yards grading — 

37,546 hard surface, 40c., 10c. extra for hauling $18,773 00 

16,095 clay, 65 cents 10,461 75 

70,683 yards, at 30 cents and 10 cents=40 cents 28,273 20 

21,120 yards of graveling, 45 cents 9,504 00 

15,018 cubic yards of macadamizing, $3.50 52,563 00 

22,528 square yards paved gutters, 55 cents 12,280 40 

640 yards stone, $7.25; 34,000 brick, $22— for culvert at 

Piney Branch 5.388 00 

3 culverts with arch on sections 1 and 2, containing 

1,092.8 yards stone and 20,000 brick . 8,362 80 

9 18-inch sewer-pipe culvei'ts, $1.52 per foot 1,683 00 

1 24-inch sewer-pipe, 84 feet, $2.75 per foot 377 00 

2 eulvei-ts on No. 3,362 yards stone, 10,000 brick 2,844 50 

Total $150,510 65 

TIBER CREEK SEWER. 

It is charged that the Tiber Creek sewer will be inadequate to dis- 
charge the water flowing therein, and also that the work is of inferior 
construction, paid for at a large price. With reference to the capacity 
of the sewer it appears that through the Botanical Gardens it has been 
sufficient to discharge the water, and in the ojiinion of the following wit 
nesses, the sewer, as constructed by the Board, is of sufficient size: 
Gen. George S. Green, (p. 114.) Mr. Mullett, (p. 567.) Mr. Shepherd, 
and nearly all the witnesses who testif}' in favor of closing the canal. 

Against these we have only the opinion of Mr. Severson. 

As to the character of the sewer, the testimony of Messrs. Friederich and 
Grant (p. 505) is contradicted by the contractors, Messrs. Williams and 
Bartlett, (pp. 102-106;) by Thomas Gault. the superintendent, (p. 649;) 
by Gen. Green, the engineer, (p. 114.) The cost estimated by Friederich 
and Grant, at eightj^ dollars per lineal foot. (p. 505.) is shoAvii by Mr. 
Oertly (p. 671) by the exposure of one error and one omission to be $29 
too small, making $109 — while the contract price is $102.50. and Mr. 



8 

Williams (p. 103) swears that the actual cost of the work so far, owing- 
to the difficulty in putting in the foundations, has been $157.50 per 
foot ; and Mr. Thomas Lewis, who built the sewer through the Botanical 
Gardens, in bidding for the District portion, asked the price of $200 ]ier 
foot, (p. 64().) 

SLASH-KUN SEWEB. 

It is charged that this sewer was of inferior construction, and three 
workmen who had been discharged stated (pp. 127-132) that the j)roi3er 
quantity of cement was not used, nor the right quality of sand, and also 
that portions of the sewer fell in. But it appears by the testimonj^ of 
Mr. Strong, (p. 553,) also of Mr. MuUett, (p. 568,) that the proper mate^ 
rial was used ; that the sewer fell through in one place because loaded 
with earth on one side instead of the top of the arch, while the other 
side was o^Den to a I'avine, and that the sewer is in all respects a good 
work, and well adapted to the purposes for which it is designed. 

THE WASHINGTON CANAL. 

The action of the Board of Public Works in fillmg the canal has been 
the subject of much testimony. The expediency of filling it cannot be 
doubted. It was opened seventy years ago, more or less, before rail- 
roads, steam-power, or locomotives were invented, and when canals w^ere 
believed to be designed for the great inland highways of the world. 
Thirty years ago the canal lost all its commei'cial importance, and it has 
since been a filthy, pestiferous ditch, endangering the health of the city. 
The necessity of doing something to destroy this vile nuisance has led 
in times past to earnest efforts to have it dredged out and kept filled 
with running water. Nearly all the opinions that have been given in 
favor of dredging the canal have been based upon the absolute necessity 
of doing something to get rid of the filth, rather than upon a compari- 
son of the relative merits of the two propositions to di'edge it or to 
fill it. But when the Board of Public Works, disregarding old tradi- 
tions, had the boldness to solve the problem by deciding to fill np the 
ditch, sufficient advice and authority for their action came at once to 
their support. The Board of Health, on the 3d day of May, 1871, con- 
demned it as a nuisance, (p. 619,) and the action of the Board of Public 
Works has been shown to be judicious by the following witnesses: 

Pbof. Joseph Henry, (OOG.) Dr. C. H. Nichols, (619.) 

Dr. T. S. Verdi, (GIG.) Dr. C. C. Cox, (G07.) 

Dr. D. \V. Bliss, (G08.) F. P. Blair, Sr. 

Gen. O. E. Babcock, ((128.) William Smith, (G37.) 

Crosby S. No yes, (G3i.) Henry L. Dawes, (G22. 

Thomas Lewis, ((UG.) Wm. D. Wise. (G49.) 
George S. Greene, (110, 119.) 



9 

The action of the Board was leg'ally justifiable under its authority by 
acts of Congress of July 15, 1870, (16 Stats. 309, sec. 5,) and of sec- 
tion 17, act of April 20, 1871, (17 Stats. 10,) to arch the canal and con- 
vert it into a sewer. The greater power always includes the less, and if 
the Board could make the canal into a covered sewer, they could, of 
coiu'se fill the canal and build a sewer along its side. 

The only serious doubt as to the expediency of filling the canal grows 
out of the fear that proper sewers cannot be constructed to carry off the 
heavy rainfalls in the city ; but in the opinion of both scientific and prac- 
tical witnesses, conversant with the subject, a parallel sewer may be con- 
structed adequate to every emergency, and conveying the unhealthy sew- 
erage matter to deep water. It seems clear that, if found necessary, both 
the Tiber Creek sewer and the Missouri Avenue and B-street sewers, 
which are to take the place of the canal, can be relieved by the constnic- 
tion of other intercepting sewers from all possibility of overflow. 

"Dnder these cii'cumstances no one act of the Board of Public Works 
more deserves public commendation or the approval of Congress than its 
prompt decision to exterminate fi'om the heart of this city the Washing- 
ton canal nuisance. 

It is charged that the Board acted unwisely in settling with Teemyer 
& Co.. the contractors employed by the old commission to narrow and 
dredge the canal. It should, however, be remembered that promptly as 
the Board acted in deciding to close the canal, there was necessarily some 
delay. There was a difference of opinion in the city, and it was deemed 
by some almost sacrilegious to fill up this receptacle of dead cats, dogs, 
and horses' legs. These delays and uncertainties were embarrassing to 
the contractors, and it is probable that they would have constituted 
gi'ound for legal claim against the District. The contractors claim that, 
taking the drawings and specifications of General Michler together, the 
work was constructed substantially in accordance therewith. Their 
statements (p. 665) and those of Mr. Oertly (p. 672) are worthy of 
consideration, and the Board seem fairly justified in making a final set- 
tlement on the terms agreed upon. At all events it is not to be con- 
ceived that Congress would desire to review the discretion of the Board 
on this point, and the character of the work, whether good or bad. is im- 
material if the policy of filling the canal is to be sustained. 

P.WEMENTS. 

The charges in relation to the pavements of the city are that they are 
too expensive and are defective. 

The experts on this subject are Captain A. Grant and Thornton 
Smith. Captain Grant has had no expeiience in pavements, except in 



10 

laying the wood paveineut iii front of his own block on Capitol Hill, 
for which he charged the city government $3.50 per square yard. Mr. 
Thornton Smith is an insolvent person, who has been mixing coal-tar 
with gravel and spreading it about on walks for from i;t$1.50 to $4 per 
square yard, where it has honeycombed and gone to destruction in a 
very short time. These two pretenders undertake to swear that some 
of the pavements laid in this city could have been laid for seventy-five 
to ninety-five cents per yard. Captain Grant, as an expert, submitted 
tables showing enormous j^rofits to the contractors, counting the 
difference between his assumed cost of ninety-five cents per yard and 
the contract price of three dollars and twenty cents per yard. Were it 
not for the apparent gravity with which their statements are made, and 
the fact that when seen in print they do not necessarily refute them- 
selves, as they do when orally stated by their manufacturers, they would 
not be worthy of notice. The actual cost of wood pavements is sworn 
to by Jonathan Taylor, (p. 556,) a man of the largest possible experi- 
ence in the business, who states the actual cost of wood pavement in 
Washington at $2.92 per square yard, and also gives the following prices 
received by him 



Per fiquare yard. 

New York $4 00 & $5 00 

Brooklyn 4 50 & 5 00 

Jersey Citv 4 50 



Per fiqunre yard. 

San Francisco, (gold,) $2 50 

Williamsport, Pa 4 18 

Philadelphia 4 00 

Elizabeth, N. J 4 50 

He also stated that the lowest price of any wood pavement which he 
had known put down at the East was $4 per yard, except at Elmira. 
N. Y., where the price was $3.15, without the grading. 

Alfred W. Craven, an eminent civil engineer, introduced by the me- 
morialists, also stated (p. 406) that the prices paid in New York for 
such pavement was $4.50 per yard. 

Charles E. Evans, (pj). 538-544,) contractor for the concrete pavement 
on Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets, states the actual cost of laying 
concrete pavements under favorable circumstances at $2.70 per yard, 
the ordinary prices paid in Brooklyn and other cities at $3 and $3.50 
per yard, and also shows the utter absurdity of Mr. Thornton Smith's 
estimate even as to the price of laying a mixture of gravel and tar which 
Mr. Smith calls his pavement, and also the gross errors of Captain Grant's 
figures. William B. Parisen, who laid the pavement in front of the 
Arlington House, swears that the actual cost of his j^avement is $2.90 
per square yard; that Mr. Thornton Smith's and Capt. Grant's estimates 
are ridiculous, and that Mr. Smith's pavement is utterly worthless. 
John O. Evans (p. 560) states that the actual cost of the pavement laid 
by him in front of the Executive Mansion was $2.60 per yard. Dr. L. 



11 

5. Filbert (p. 559) states that the cost to him of his concrete pavement 
on New York Avenue has been over $3 per yard. 

It appears that on the 1st of September, 1871, the Board of Public 
Works received proposals for paving the streets of the city, (p. 523,) and 
that no suitable concrete or wood pavement was offered for less than $3 
per squax-e yard, and that Mr. Thornton Smith's pavement, which he stated 
he could lay at a cost of seventy-five cents per square yard, was offered 
in the name of John D. Stafford at prices as high as $2.80, and in no 
case below ,*B2.25 per square yard! It appears, also, that all the good 
wood and concrete pavements are patented inventions, and cannot be 
used except by the payment of royalty. 

Upon all the evidence before the committee it seems clear that there 
can be little doubt that the Board prices for pavements were as low as 
they could have prudently been established. 

It is true that defects have been developed in many of the j^avements, 
but it also appears that these defects must be remedied by the contrac- 
tors, who are boiuid in all cases to keep their pavements in repair for 
three years. These defects in nearly exery case have been owing either 
to the haste of construction or to bad weather. The laying of concrete 
pavements is certainly a dehcate process, to be carefully watched and at- 
tended. Success evidently depends upon prociiring the very best ma- 
terial, thoroughly eliminating the volatile oils from the coal-oil and 
asphalt used for a binding compound, applying the compound well heated 
to the broken stone and gravel which make the road-bed, and in warm 
and dry weather thoroughly rolling the material into a consolidated, com- 
pact roadway. From the neglect of these conditions, fi-om defective 
foundations, bad superintendence, and the haste with which the work 
was crowded, have come the defects in the existing pavements. That 
these pavements shall be immediately rejjaired by the contractors, and 
that hereafter no pavement shall be laid except in favorable weather and 
with every possible precaution to ensure permanence, is the determina- 
tion of the Board. On this important subject of street pavements they 
desire the advice and assistance of the committee. 

HOW MUCH WILL THE FOUR MILLION L0.A.N ACCOMPLISH ? 

But the question natiu-ally arises, how much has the Board of Public 
Works already expended, and how much will the four milhon loan accom- 
plish? 

It appears from the Treasurer's statement, (p. 450,) that up to March 

6, 1872, the Board had received $2,031,366.89, 

and had expended in — 



12 

Georgetown $23,214 93 

Wasliington county 165,955 90 

Washington city 1,480,313 68 

Expenditures mainly for material not yet 

charged to the special improvements .. . 338.427 48 

§2,007,911 99 

It also appears that the total estimated cost of work con- 
tracted for bv the Board is 1,311,718 45 

Payments made on the same to March 11, 1872 938,575 09 



Balance of work to be done $373,143 36 

But of the above amount of $1,311,718.45, one-third, amounting to 
$437,239.48, or more than enough to complete all oiitstanding contracts, 
is to be collected as assessments on the adjoining property. 

The Board, therefore, have not yet exhausted one million of the four 
milHon dollars at their command. 

Mr. Shepherd (p. 581) has estimated the cost of completing the streets 
running from Penn.sylvania Avenue northwardly as follows : 

Fourteenth-street, N. W., from N-street, N., to Boundary, (70 feet 

wide) $154,468 52 

Thirteenth-street, N.W., from F-st. to N-st., (35 feet wide) . . . 45,417 06 

Twelfth-street, N. W., from F-st. to N-st., (32 feet wide). . . 42,057 06 

Eleventh-street, N. W., from F-st. to N-st., (35 feet wide). . 55,208 86 

Tenth-street, N.W., from F-st. to N-st., (32 feet wide) 42,057 06 

Ninth-street, N. W., from F-st. to Boundary, (32 feet wide). 82,742 20 

Eighth-street, N. W„ from D-st. to N-st., (32 feet wide) 51,061 60 

Sixth-street, N.W., from Massachusetts Avenue to Boundary 

(32 feet wide) 66,169 30 

Fifth-street, N. W., from L-st. to N-st., (32 feet wide) 13.281 00 

Fourth-street, N. W.. from Indiana Avenue to N-street, (32 

feet wide) 69,240 00 

Second-street, N. W., from New Jersey Avenue to N-street, 

(32 feet wide) 38,404 80 



$660,107 46 



He also estimates that $300,000 added to this $660,000, making about 
one million of dollars, will finish the heart of the city. These improve- 
ments will not consume two millions of the four-million loan. How far 
the remaining two millions, with one million to be paid by property 
holders added, will accomplish in completing the improvement of the 
whole city, it is impossible accurately to determine. But it is reasonably 
certain that enoiTgh will be accomplished to demonstrate that a compre- 
hensive plan has been substantially carried out, redeeming the city from 
filthy canals and pestilential surface drainage, disgraceful and imjiassi- 



13 

l)le roadways, and that antediluvian elongated ngliness, peculiar to this 
and known to no other national capital, unless of a barbarous race. 

How soon it will be possible to go beyond the present four million 
loan, and make this city in all respects what our nation's capital should 
Ul', will depend entirely uj^on its increase in population and wealth dur- 
iug the next two or three years, and ujjon the justice and liberality of 
the National Congress. It is no part of the plan of the Board of Pubhc 
Works to press improvements beyond the demands or means of the 
District, to unreasonably increase debt or taxation, or to iinnecessai-ily 
alarm the most conservative or sensitive propertj^-holder. 

EXCESSIVE TAXATION. 

It is charged, however, that excessive taxation will be necessary, to 
tlie injury of the District. 

]Mi-. Shepherd's estimate on this point (p. G77) is as follows : 

Estimated Annual Expenditures. 

Public schools $400,000 

Fire department 75,000 

Metropolitan police 90,000 

Lighting the city with gas 70,000 

Ordinary and contingent expenses of the government of the 

District of Columbia 282,034 

Interest and sinking fund on debt, estimated at $8,000,000.. 000,000 

Contingencies 100,000 

$1,617,634 
Estimated Revenue. 

Estimated assessment, (in round numbers,) $90,000,000 — this 

amount at $1.70 per $100 will yield $1,530,000 

Estimated revenue from licenses 150,000 

Estimated revenue from water- fund 40,000 

$1,720,000 

No error has been or can be pointed out in this estimate. Captain W. 
W. Moore's estimates (pp. 418, 419, and 675) include a tax of 80 cents 
on the dollar to reduce the debts of the old corporations which are now 
to be funded, a tax for a second four-million loan, which is not to be 
negotiated, and taxes on account of the Piedmont railroad, and the 
water and market loans, which are no part of the general taxation of the 
District. 

It is true that Captain Grant disputes the correctness of Mr. Shepherd's 
estimates, and submits his own figures, showing nuich larger sums. No 
one without trejiidation can venture to dispute with Captain Grant on en- 
gineering subjects. Yet it may be mildly suggested that the statements 



14 

made b}^ him and his brother, Jackson Grant, and his coadjutor, Mr. 
Friederich, are most marvellous. Engineers Grant and Friederich (p. 
506) give the distance from Pennsylvania to Indiana Avenue at 1,162 feet, 
when it is 859 feet. They give the distance on New York Avenue from 
Fifteenth-street to New Jersey Avenue at 11,000 feet, (p. 507,) when it is 
5,600 feet, (p. 673.) They estimate (p. 507) the area of certain streets at 
560,220 square yards, when their correct area is 286,341 square yards, (p. 
673,) and then proceed to show the difference between the cost of 560,000 
yards at 95 cents per yard. Grant's absurd price, and ?t*3.20per yard, the 
actual and reasonable contract price. They state the amount of dredg- 
ing allowed Teemyer & Co. (p. 509) at J!t;83,474.18, and then add there- 
to the expense of dredging the James Creek Branch, $25,383, when the 
latter amount is already included in the former, as appears by Mr. Muh 
lett's report, (p.l49,) where the sums of $48,075.18, $10,017, and $25,383 
make up the amount of $83,475.18, taken by Grant and Friederich. 

Brother Jackson Grant is inoculated with the same propensity as his 
relative, and swears (p. 707) that in the Tiber sewer he saw the mor- 
tar used in laying the wall under water made up fifteen parts sand to one 
part cement ; in which statement he is contradicted by his associate ex- 
pert, Louis P. Himer, who saw the mortar at the same time, but has not 
risen to the recklessness of the Grants, and puts the proportions as four 
parts sand to one part cement. They both, however, swear (p. 707) 
that the difference by reason of omitting a skew-back in laying the Tiber 
arch would be half the expense of building the sewer, which cost at least 
one hundred dollars per lineal foot, while Mr. Oertley (p. 712) states 
that the difference in cost would not exceed $1.50 per lineal foot ! 

Mr. Friederich seems to have had some experience as a draughtsman 
and calculator, but his reputation will soon be ruined if he signs many 
more reports on engineering drawn up by Captain Grant. Mr. Frieder 
ich's statements as to concrete pavements, (p. 517,) where he proposes a 
mixture of gravel and undistilled coal-tar fourteen inches thick, and says 
that it will last five years as a street pavement, and then would require 
only a new "top-dressing," shows him to be as ignorant and reckless as 
Thornton Smith, who swears (p. 210) that six inches of gravel and coal- 
tar, costing 75 cents a square yard, would stand on Broadwa3% New York ! 

Surely after such reckless reckoning and swearing as has been ex- 
hibited in this case by the two Grants and Thornton Smith and Mr. 
Crane, the people of the District need not be alarmed when they here- 
after parade their columns of figures to prove that the District is to be 
ruined by the Board of Public Works. The only wonder is that they 
make the whole cost of paving the streets of the District as low as forty 
or fifty millions ! (p. 507.) The excitable Mr. Henry S. Davis beats 



15 

them at this style of figuring, (p. 4:87,) and estimates the total cost of 
paving and sewerage at $108,120,000 — all of which he seems to think is 
to be taxed against his property by the Board of Public Works, who, he 
says, are '-no better tlian thieves." and have increased the assessment of his 
real estate $50,000 more than it is worth, but not one piece of which will 
he sell at the assessed price, because he is a *' sort of an old man," and 
needs the i)roperty to look after. 

DEBT OF THE DISTRICT. 

But it is charged that if the taxes are not increased the indebtedness 
of the Distiict will become too burdensome. 

It appears, however, by the statement of the Comptroller, dated 
^larch 18. (p. 44G.) that the whole indebtedness March 1. 1872, includ- 
ing only two millions of the four-million loan was as follows : 

Debt of the District .s2,450.000 

Debt of the old corporations 3,756,381 

Total .^6,206,381 

An indebtedness of eight milhons of dollars, one-half of it incurred for 
the pm-pose of sewering, grading, paving, and otherwise improving, 
adorning, and beautifying the capital city of the United States, cannot 
be considered excessive. 

Ex-Mayor Berrett testified that in his opinion the District can well 
carry a debt of ten millions without increasing its taxation a penny, (p. 
324.") 

VALUATION OK THE DISTRICT. 

That the taxation and debt of the District is not excessive, consider- 
ing the necessity for immediate improvements and the growth of the 
capital occasioned thereby, is apparent from considering the amount of 
taxable property, (p. 455.) 

Valuation of the iJistrict. 
Washington : 

Value of ground $34,639,861 

Value of improvements 27,781,470 

Value of personal estate 9,000,997 

5^71,422,328 

Georgetown : 

Real estate $6,036,434 

Personal 1,584,320 

$7,620,754 



16 

County : 

Real estate . ". $6,500,000 

Personal 672,533 

17,172,533 

Recapittdation . 

Washington $71,422,328 

Georgetown 7,620,754 

CounV 7,172,533 

Estimated value of new improvements 3,000,000 

$89,215,615 



It is alleged that the valuation of real-estate is too high, and there is 
a conflict of opinion on that subject among intelligent witnesses. Prop 
erty-holders always complain at any attempt to increase the valuation of 
theii- property for purposes of taxation. The ajDpeal board has not yet 
made its decisions, and it is confidently submitted that when the few 
errors which they are considering have been corrected, the fau- total val 
nation of the District cannot be lower than ninety millions. 

With ninety millions of taxable pro^jerty, (all real-estate except eleven 
millions of personal property,) the District indebtedness of six millions 
now existing, or of eight millions, which will be the amount when the 
four million loan is fully issued, cannot be considered large, since, beyond 
all question, the improvements which will be effected by that loan will 
within the next five years increase by more than ten millions the taxable 
value of the real property of the District. 

If the taxation or indebtedness, present or prospective, were excessive, 
property-holders would very generally become alarmed, and property 
itself would decrease in value or become unsalable. 

The only property-holders who have shown signs of alarm are those 
who signed the two memorials before the committee. An analysis of 
the signers of the first memorial gives this result, (p. 597 :) 

Of 602 memorialists there are taxpayers, 166. These 166 taxpayers 
own $3,463,800 of valuation, or about 4 percent, of the whole valuation, 
and pay a tax of $56,515.98, or about 4^ per cent, of the whole taxes. 

The second memorial, signed by men of more property and higher 
standing than the signers of the first, effectually refutes itself. It is a 
tirade, and not an argument nor a statement of facts, and is utterly 
pointless when deprived of its only charge worthy of mention — what it 
terms the " second batch of bonds for four millions of dollars." The 
signers of this memorial will some day regret their opposition to the 
improvement of the National Capital. 



17 

Property, instead of decreasing in value under the outcry of debt and 
taxation, is steadily increasing, as appears by the testimony of George 
W. Linville, (p. 37G,) J. M. Latta, (p. 024,) M. M. Rohrer, (p. 650,) R. 
M. Hall, (p. G40,) and several others. Real-estate is active, pi-ices ad- 
vancing, and gentlemen of fortune and leism^e are coming to Washing- 
ton to build houses and make theii- winter residences. 

If additional proof is wanted that the indebtedness of the District need 
create no alarm it is to be found in the steady increase of the credit of 
the District and the enhanced price of its bonds. Washington securities 
which a year ago could be bought at 80 cents on the dollar are now worth 
97, according to the testimony of Mr. Shepherd, (p. 585.) and John A. 
Rviff, (p. GG3.) The negotiation of the four niilHon loan, bearing G per 
cent, interest, at 94 cents on the dollar in New York, was a most success- 
ful and beneficial transaction. Since its negotiation the credit of the Dis- 
trict has continued to improve, so that the Governor succeeded in sell- 
ing $450,000 of water bonds at par, and Uttle difficulty is anticipated in 
funding, under the bill which has just passed Congress, the old indebt- 
edness, amounting to three millions, with six per cent, bonds, to be dis- 
posed of at not less than 97. 

The counsel, (Mr. Green.) exercising his brains over the conversion of 
dollars iuto pounds sterhng, and in reckoning the rates of foreign ex- 
change, endeavored to create an unfavorable impression as to the negotia- 
tion of the foiu- million loan, because after the Governor had sold it to 
the Fu-st National Bank of New York at 94, that bank sold it at 9Gi to 
Messrs. Seligman & Co., who disposed of it abroad at about par in cur- 
rency. But the testimony of the Governor (p. 384) and of Mr. Selig- 
man, (p. 407,) showing the commissions usually i)aid for a negotiation of 
new and unknown loans, is a sufficient answer to all such criticisms. The 
wisdom of the loan is also proved by Mi-. George W. Riggs, a most emi- 
nent banker (p. 691,) and also by the testimony of Dr. Blake (p. 694,) 
and others. The memorialists are welcome to all the benefits they can 
derive from demonstrating the increase in the value of the l^ouds of the 
District after they had been once disposed of by Governor Cooke at a 
rate deemed at the time, by almost every one. impossible to be obtained. 
The suggestion that the full price obtamed for the bonds in Germany 
was occasioned by representations in the prospectus there issued, that 
the United States were responsible for the loan, is unfoimded. The 
Germans are not fools, as the counsel would have the committee beHeve. 

OFFICEKS AND SALARIES. 

It is charged that the new government has largely increased the num 
ber of corporation officers, and the rate of their salaries. If this were 



18 

the case it would be natural and justifiable. The inaugiu-ation of a new 
and battel' government for the District necessai-ily involved a larger 
number of officers, for a time at least. But the official rejiorts show 
that the new government compares most favorably with the old, in rela- 
tion to the expenses for its officers. By the statement of the Comptrol- 
ler, dated February 8, 1872, (p. 185,) the following appears : 

Annual Snlariea of Offiars and Employees of the District, and of old Corporations, 

for one year. 





Departments. 


Total expense.*. 




Executive. 


Interior. 


Legislative. 




S77,511 M 
(i2,90O Ull 


1120,543 09 
472,520 00 


$25,700 
20,597 


$523,955 53 




55(5,017 00 





Making a nominal diflference against the District of $32,061.47 — more 
than counterbalanced by an increase of pay of $10 per man to the Me- 
tropolitan police, equal to $30,000, and an increase of the amount to 
public schools of $33,603.74. Surely in the matter of salaries the new 
government compares favorably with the old. The new collector of 
taxes and his deputies and clerks receive $16,400, while the collectors 
under the old government received in fees $40,260! 



EXPENSES OF ADVERTISING AND PRINTING. 

It appears by the Comptroller's statement (p. 190) that the amount 
paid for printing and advertising to Januaiy 31, 1872, was $101,221.79. 
and by his report of February 20, 1872, (p. 510,) the additional pay- 
ments after January 31 were $13,964.93, making in all $115,186.72. 
These payments are undoubtedly large, but an analysis shows that most 
of them were justifiable. $33,680.29 were for printing, which, as ex- 
plained by the Governor in his letter of February 7, (p. 191,) was neces- 
sarily incidental in starting a new government. $37,377.24 were paid 
for advertising the loan bills and the Piedmont railroad acts. The 
necessity and advantages of this extensive advertising of the loan bills 
are stated by the Governor in his letter. The effect of wide-spread in- 
formation as to the character of the loan bills in securing an almost 
unanimous vote in favor of the loan, and the consequent benefit to the 
credit of the District, the Governor estimates at over a half million dol 
lars. If contracts had in all cases been made in advance with the jorint- 
ers, instead of efforts, which were in most cases fruitless, to reduce the 
amount of their bills when rendered, some money might have been saved 
to the District, but probably not over $10,000 or $20,000. It was diffi- 



19 

CLilt to give the advertising to oue newspaper without giving it to al), 
and with that generosity which pnbUc officials usually show to the news- 
paper press, the papers of the District were allowed to print all the 
goveninient advertising without any attempts to make sharp l)argains 
with them. Complaints of this character, " Too great expenditure of 
monc}^ for printing and advertising!" are always made against every mu- 
nicipal. State, or national administration ; and while such expenditures 
cannot always be justified, the offences may well be treated as venial, 
and not deserving of severe reprehension. 

Morrison's building. 

The necessity imposed upon the new District government of leaving 
the City Hall to be used solely for United States purposes and of pro- 
viding quarters elsewhere is abundantly proved by the letter of Chief 
Justice Cartter and of the judges of the Supreme Court of the District, 
(p. 175.) and by the answer of Governor Cooke, (p. 168.) As the cu*- 
cuit court room had been occupied in common with the City Coujicil, 
the Coiuicil sitting at night, and the equity and probate court room by 
the Board of Aldermen, it was absolutely impossible for the courts and 
the District govei'nment to be accommodated in the same building, and 
the action of the latter in finding other offices needs no defence. 

The bills for fitting up Morrisons Building, as originally rendered, were 
large, and it is impossible to conclude that Mr. H. E. Searle acted eco- 
nomically and faithfully. But the District authorities, when the bills 
were rendered, seem to have acted without fear or favor, cutting them 
dowTi from $78,695.31 to $57,787.18, as appears by the statement of the 
Comptroller, (p. 522.) and by the report of Messrs. A. Cluss and J. C. 
Rankin, (p. 680.) 

MISCELL.\NEOUS CHARGES. 

There are simdry miscellaneous charges made against the District 
government, which may be worth brief allusion. 

It is charged that the Board of Public Works improperly influenced 
and controlled the Legislatui-e. There was a very little evidence to sus- 
tain the charge, and it Avas abundantly disproved. (C. F. Peck. p. 364; 
D. L. Eaton, p. 614; Samuel Cross, p. 662.) 

It is charged that infei'ior beef was furnished to the Washington Asy- 
lum under a contract with a member of the Legislature. (Thos. B. Cross, 
Jr., p. 243 ; J. T. Varnel. pp. 247. 437.) It is jn'oved that good beef 
was furnished by the contractor, and that the Governors interforeiice 
was to prohibit the feeding of the paupers on refuse meat. (Jos. F. 
Hodsdon, p. 647 ; Thomas E. Bean, p. 661.) 



20 

It is charged that while it was the duty of the District government to 
furnish tickets both for and against the loan, those against the loan coiild 
be procured with difficulty. But it appears from the testimony of Mr. 
WilHam A. Cook (p. GIO) and of Mr. Henry A. Mallory (p. 714) that abun- 
dance of tickets were sent out. The lack of tickets can easily be ac- 
counted for on the ground that there was no demand for them, the 
people being practically imanimous for the loan. 

It is charged by Mr. Crane (p. 493) that 14.099 voters were directly 
or indirectly in the employ of the District government on election day, 
while it appears from the testimony of Col. George W. Balloch, (p. 653,) 
and of Mr. B. D. Carpenter, (p. 655.) that only 1,444 laborers were in the 
employ of the District at that time, and the details constituting the ad- 
ditional niimlDcr given by Mr. Crane as employed by contractors and 
otherwise are either speculative, exaggerated, or grossly false. 

It is charged that voters were imported into the District, and that 
voters were intimidated, but there is absolutely no j^roof on the subject. 

It is brilliantly and logically argued by the coiinsel, Mr. Green, that 
the District government is modeled according to the advice of Mr. Wil- 
liam M. Tweed and in the likeness of Tammany Hall, because forms of 
contracts were borrowed from the New York Board of Public Works. 
But it appears that the only person in tliis city in commiuiication with 
Mr. Tweed is Mr. B. E. Green himself, to whose letters Mr. Tweed 
gives promjit replies, (p. 423.) 

Various attacks have been made upon Mr. A. R. Shepherd, which are 
hardly deserving of reply. As a large real estate owner, a constant buyer 
and seller of j^roperty, having full faith in an increase of prices by reason 
of the growth and improvement of the District, he has not hesitated to 
purchase real-estate whenever and wherever he could find good bargains. 
In no single case has it been proved that any of the improvements have 
been directed with a view to benefit his property. The F-street improve- 
ment benefited him only in common with the whole neighborhood, and 
carrying the grade to its extreme depth was an injury rather than a ben- 
efit to his propert}^ The construction of the Seventh-street road is 
abundantly vindicated by the importance of the thoroughfare and its 
fearful condition when taken possession of by the District. The repairs 
would have been made even if Mr. Shepherd had not owned a farm in 
the country, to which, however, he travelled only in the summer, and 
then usually by the Fourteenth-street road. 



21 

CONGRESS MUST HELP THE NATIOn's CAPITAL CITY. 

Ill conchuling this imperfect review of the various subjects which 
have been brought within the range of the investigation it will be 
only frank and just to say that there is doubt whetlier, without the 
aid of the United States, the public improvements within this Dis- 
trict fan be carried to completion. Although the people have 
eviiifcd a praiseworthy disposition to tax themselves to make Wasli- 
ino-ton a fit ]»la('e for the capital, yet it is possil)le they have under- 
taken to carry a burden greater than they can bear. 

The streets and avenues are very wide, embracing about 2,500 
acres. Along many of the best streets the property-holders are 
|»oor. This is not yet a manufacturing city, nor a centre for a very 
large trade, and, although its growth since the close of the war has 
l)een rapid, yet its future increase in population and wealth cannot 
be predicted with as much certainty as if it were a manufacturing 
or (*onnnercial city, instead of a political capital. 

The true solution of this doul)t is for the United States to lend a 
helping hand, and to make such appropriations as will carry on con- 
tinuously the work of improvement until the harl)or, the streets, the 
parks, the railroads, the public buildings, and every sulnn-b of 
Washington are in such coiulition that our capital can be excelled 
by no other in the world. All other nations are proud of their capital 
cities ; they improve, decorate, and beautify them ; they la^asli upon 
them the nation's money, and exhibit toward them no dislike or 
jealousy. AVhy should not this be the case with the United States? 
Washington was laid out for a grand capital. It is now the centre 
of a Union of forty millions of people, the most intelligent and 
patriotic that the world contains. It should not be a mere political 
centre. AVith its favoral)le climate it should be a favorite winter 
resort of the nation, thronged by the wealthy, literary, scientiiitr, 
social, and religious celebrities of the country. 

To ensure to Washington a glorious future it is only necessary 
that the national Congress should appropriate a fair share of the 
money of the United States for its improvement. 

A favorable response to two claims, so evidently just tliat no 
American citizen will deny them, is all that is asked. 

I. Let the United States pay, for the benefit of the District, as 
large a tax upon the property of the Government as is paid by the 



22 

people upon their ]>rivnte property. This has never yet been done, 
and the District has depended upon special appropriations, some- 
times reluctantly given, for the nation's share of the expenses of 
the capital; while the broad streets and avenues of Washington, 
laid out and fixed by the general Government, have remained un- 
improved l)ecause of the divided jurisdiction between Congress and 
the city of AVasliington. When the plan of the present government 
was originated under which the ])eople of the District were to tax 
themselves largely and to borrow millions of money to expend in 
improvements, it embraced the idea of the payment l)y the United 
States of taxes, (or appropriations to an equivalent amount,) based 
upon a valuation of all the public property. 

It is clear that the work of improvement cannot be made a final- 
ity and the capital maintained during future years as a credit to the 
nation witliout help from the United States. With Government 
real-estate worth nearly as much as all the real-estate of private 
owners, it is manifestly just that a fair proportion of aid should be 
rendered from the national treasury. The difficulty has been to de- 
termine what would be a just and fair proportion, and to seciu'e the 
necessary appropriations without the people of the District seeming 
to be beggars, depending only upon gifts from the United States for 
their support. Let the difficulty l)e settled l)y the valuation of all 
the Government property on the same basis as the valuation of pri- 
vate property, and let Congress regularly appropriate an annual sum 
equivalent to the taxes thereon, and a great obstacle to the inqn'ove- 
ment and prosperity of the District will be removed. 

11. In addition, however. Congress, placing the District upon the 
same footing with the other sections of the country, should under- 
take the improvement of the harbor of Washington. The founders 
of the capital, infatuated with the idea of a canal, neglected the 
river front and almost destroyed it by tlie construction of the cause- 
way of Long Bridge, which has created extensive flats on this side 
and has thrown the deep channel toward the Yirginia shore. The 
onlv remedy now practicable is to construct a sea-wall from George- 
town to the causeway and to All up the flats. This will give an ad- 
equate deep-waterfront; will reclaim several thousand acres of land 
which may be made profitable for purposes of commerce, and will 
promote in a high degree the health of the city. 



23 

The ox|>eiis(' of tlii^ iinproNriiK'iit the District eaiinut pay. It is 
the natural and approja'inte work of the Ignited States, which, it 
cannot l>e (hjuhted, will ]»e [)ruin])tly undertaken as soon as the offi- 
cial report authoi-i/.ed l»y Congress is received and attentively ex- 
amined. 

Finally, in justice to the District officers, the attention of the 
committee is called to the fact that dnrini; the whole investigation 
there has been no attempt at concealment on the ]iart of the Dis- 
trict government. By the testimony of witnesses and the full writ- 
ten statements that have been furnished in answer to the minute 
and searching iiKpiiries of the memorialists, every detail of tlie work- 
ings of the government, and many of tlie particulars of the private 
business of its officers, have been exhibited to the public gaze. 
Even municipal governments, if conducted by faithful officers, may 
posssibly have some proper secrets of administration which ouglit 
not to be published in the newspapers; and certainly no American 
citizen, even wdien acting as a public officer, ought, on such slight 
reasons as have ])revailed in this case, to have his private l)usiness 
inquired into by such persons as these memorialists. 

The District officers have, however, with as good grace as possi- 
ble, sul»mitted to all the annoyances and inconveniences attending 
the investigation, and will not even regret them if, as the result of 
the inquiry, Congress may ])e induced to express renew^ed confidence 
in the government which they created, and to aid by friendly legis- 
lation and liberal appropriations the important w^ork of making 
Washington, the seat of the Government of the United States, a 
capital city which shall in all respects be a credit and an honor to 
the great Iley)ublic of the World. 

WM. E CHANDLER. 

Washington, April 24, 1872. 



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